Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding details revealed
With just days to go until the next royal wedding, here is what we know so far about Princess Eugenie’s Windsor ceremony:
The time and venue
The wedding of the Queen’s 28-year-old granddaughter to drinks executive Jack Brooksbank is taking place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle - the same venue as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - at 11am on Friday October 12.
Guests
At least 800 guests, 200 more than at Harry and Meghan’s nuptials, will gather in the gothic chapel for the royal celebration.
The Queen and the royals, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Sussexes, are expected to be out in force, alongside Eugenie’s proud parents the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York.
But the Duchess of Cornwall is unable to attend, having a longstanding prior engagement at a school harvest festival in Scotland.
It is believed she will not be back in time to join in with the evening celebrations.
Celebrity guests are yet to be confirmed but those expected include former Take That singer Robbie Williams and his wife and fellow X Factor judge Ayda.
Other predictions have ranged from George and Amal Clooney and singer Ellie Goulding to supermodel Cindy Crawford and the Beckhams.
Jack works as a brand ambassador for Casamigos tequila, which was founded by Clooney and Crawford’s husband Rande Gerber.
Maid of Honour
Eugenie has already revealed that big sister Princess Beatrice will be her maid of honour.
The princess’s bridesmaids and pageboys have yet to be confirmed.
Royal fans will be hoping to see Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and there is also speculation that Robbie and Ayda Williams’s daughter Teddy has been asked.
The dress
Eugenie has said she has chosen a British-based designer.
Erdem - often her go-to choice - is the favourite at Ladbrokes at 2/1.
Kate and Meghan are odds on to wear Alexander McQueen and Givenchy at 1/2 and 1/3.
Meanwhile, the latest favourite odds on the Queen’s hat are pink at 5/2 and blue at 3/1.
Service
The wedding service, which traditionally lasts an hour, will feature a personal prayer written by Archbishop of York John Sentamu.
Eugenie is a princess of York – just like her grandmother the Queen was.
The Dean of Windsor David Conner will give the address and also officiate as the couple make their marriage vows.
Music
Italian singer-songwriter Andrea Bocelli will perform two pieces during the service, with members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra also featuring.
Departure of the bride and groom
Members of Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards, of which the Duke of York is Colonel, will line the West Steps of the chapel as the couple emerge as newlyweds.
Pipers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland will perform Scottish pieces from the Garter Tower as the bride and groom leave in a carriage.
Carriage ride
A carriage procession will take the bride and groom from the Royal Mews, out of Windsor Castle and on to part of the High Street.
The public will be able to see the couple on Castle Hill, the High Street and Park Street.
The carriage ride will not be as long as Harry and Meghan’s and nor will the couple travel up the Long Walk to the castle as the Sussexes did.
It follows the route taken by the Earl and Countess of Wessex after their 1999 wedding.
Reception
The Queen is hosting an afternoon reception afterwards in the castle’s vast St George’s Hall, but the festivities are expected to continue into the early hours with an evening party at the York family home Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The cake
Eugenie and Jack have chosen a red velvet and chocolate cake as their centrepiece.
It is being crafted by London-based cake designer Sophie Cabot, who described it as "special and unique", featuring rich autumn colours and detailed sugar work.
Sophie came to the attention of the couple through her involvement with the Duke of York’s Pitch at Palace programme, where she supplied hand-made decorated bespoke biscuits.
The bar
Jack, who has a background in hospitality, is in charge of the drinks and has revealed Casamigos tequila will be on the menu.
What about the public?
Around 1,200 members of the public have been given balloted invites to the castle’s Lower Ward, as have charity representatives, children from Eugenie’s old schools, and Royal Household staff.
The petition
Republic, a campaigning group working for an elected head of state, has criticised the security cost to the taxpayer, saying estimates have put the bill at £2 million.
Its petition urging the Government to commit no public money to the wedding has more than 38,000 signatures.
Television
The wedding is being screened in full on ITV as part of a special three-hour This Morning show live from Windsor, hosted by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.
Those wishing to avoid watching the coverage can instead turn to BBC One’s regular schedule of Rip Off Britain, Homes Under The Hammer, A1: Britain’s Longest Road, Armchair Britain, which takes a look at the seaside town of Blackpool, and then Bargain Hunt.